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Nissan Silvia S15 - Sweet, Sweet Silvia

Style Or Performance: Where Do Your Allegiances Lie?

The art of building a car for style alone is often times just as impressive as those who choose the way of performance. They'll argue back and forth endlessly, but at the end of the day these arguments are all valid; it ultimately remains the owner's choice on how they choose to modify, just as it is yours to dress, style and go about any of your daily business. For Keita Kikuchi, he tends to fall on the stylish side but he knows fully well that it's what makes his car stand out. In fact, he was so hard up about the lack of mods under his S15 Silvia engine bay that he refused to pop the hood (it's not entirely stock, as it sports the required basics). We're okay with that...

What drew us to this particular Silvia was its approach to exterior styling. Part of the last generation of the S-chassis, the Silvia S15 has a unique silhouette all its own but Keita's has been modified classically to help retain this perfection with parts from the 326power collection, such as a 3D STAR aero kit using a front bumper, roof spoiler and side skirts. The custom color combination could be considered a little wild with its copper accents, yet it's fashionable without being gaudy. The roof is done in true Japanese style, a brushed green metallic look that we think is a nice touch. Keita also selected black faced SSR Professor VF-1s to help fill the widened Super Made fenders and custom-pulled rear arches.

Suspension is a primary area of modification for Keita, so he installed coilovers and several different types of control arms to help pull off its slammed look and to help keep the tires from hitting the fenders, which it did until he had set up the Nissan Silvia S15 properly. "Even the slightest change in ride height affects the alignment," Keita explains. "Every time you make these changes, test-drive the car over and over until you're satisfied." Inside, the car bursts out at you in a sea of red with Bride seats, custom upholstered rear seats, center console and floor mats. Even his jungle gym-like 8-point Saito roll cage is wrapped with red cushioning to match the aesthetic of this S15.

Keita's ride may not be the typical drift machine that we're normally accustomed to seeing when it comes to the S15 chassis but it's still a very cool looking alternative for those who crave a difference without sacrificing performance where it counts. Style maintains its argument for another day...